Palette Pin: Purple and Pink and Blue

I love how even the black areas in the palette look dark blue, 

or is it the other way round? 

 

Zooming out to give you a wonderful view of the print on this fabric

The touches of peach work alongside the pinks is

one of my favourite things about this fabric.

.

Odd Colours and Leaves

Royal blue and olive green leaves, with these lines that form flower heads and leaves. An interesting colour palette, at first I thought it was awkward and not very nice to look at, but actually after spending time working with the fabric itself the pattern grew on me.  

 

The blue so striking and seems to almost move and glow, whilst the odd touches of a mid green add a little stability.

(Artist) Tracy Emin: Respect

This is quite a personal post and well overdue.
I was thinking about how respecting a person doesn't automatically mean you then like or agree with everything they do or say.
Tracey Emin would be a great example of this thought trail, whilst as an artist I think she has done so much good in terms of exposing textiles, fabric and the workings of stitch to the public as something equal to paint or sculpture using old school materials like plaster - that in fact stitch and thread are about as old school as you can get. She also has an interesting way of drawing that is loose and sketchy with a genuinely warm perspective and style. Delicate still.  

2012

Olympics and Paralympics Poster
(House to Home, 2013)

I actually found myself with mixed feelings. I liked the poster for its simplicity, it was brave and unlike the other posters it seemed much more personal and like a small note on a scrap bit of paper - yet more treasurable. Breaking boundaries; who says a poster needs to be an explosion of colour and images and an assault to the senses?
However it was very plain, there seems to be no fanfare in it - no amazing triumph or sense of...well power and endurance and strength. Though looking at the image there is a kind of strength to it's grace of image. Also, comparing to the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympics (wow has it been that long ago?), where is the colour in this poster? Also lacking in anything sports related except the logo. But again I can refer to my above point, who says a poster needs to be a graphics montage or drawing that hurls itself at the eyes and is painfully loud.  

Emin is one gutsy artist, and honestly if someone who really dislikes her work was to say anything about her it would be that she is strange, or prevalent, that her works refuse to be snuffed out quietly. Tracy Emin will not be cautious or careful. I find her work at times to be far too personal, a scrutiny of her life that is too close to even the sad or gruesome tales. She seems to be like a ship, going form one storm to the next.
But, I admire her in spite of this, for being bold and ballsy, being so personal with her work. She is an honest artist, she doesn't say 'well no this didn't effect me', but revels in the fact that the work is her and her experiences. She actually narrates her story through art. Could her work be seen as a literal self biography? The un made bed? The blankets and the tent? Yes, of course.
Melanie McGrath's essay (2013) regarding the artist, also relates or creates an analogy of Emin's work being like text, like you're reading something as if it were a set of letters making coherent words and phrases, looking at materials she uses and shapes she creates or ideas Emin plays with.  

What is the point of making art unless it confronts or explores something? It can't be just for visual kicks, because now you can get that from the internet, from pinterest, facebook, online newspapers and, well, any where.  

So yes, I respect Tracey Emin as an artist, even as a person, because in the end she presents herself with honesty. She doesn't hide away and pretend to be what she isn't. It helps that she's rich, her exhibitions reviewed and that she is continuing in her practice, but not that much really.  




References:
Cumming, L. (2011) 'Tracey Emin: Love is What Your Want - review', the Guardian, 22nd May (Online) Available at: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/may/22/tracey-emin-love-hayward-review (Accessed: 5th October 2013).

Dorment, R. (2011) 'Tracey Emin: Love Is What You Want, Hayward Gallery, review', The Telegraph, 16th May. (Online) Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-reviews/8517013/Tracey-Emin-Love-Is-What-You-Want-Hayward-Gallery-review.html (Accessed 5th October 2013).
McGrath. M. (2013) 'Few Artists are Subjected to Fierce Public Scritiny in the British Tabloids Like Tracey Emin. But Is She A Great Artist?', Tate Magazine, no. 1. (Online) Available at: http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/articles/somethings-wrong-tracey-emin (Accessed: 21st October 2013).

House to Home (2013) 'London Olympics 2012 - 10 of the best home accessories', housetohome.co.uk. (Online) Available at: http://www.housetohome.co.uk/product-idea/picture/london-olympics-2012-10-of-the-best-home-accessories/4 (Accessed: 11th November 2013).

Buttons in black and white

Black and white photocopy of buttons dug out of my old research file from university. The ones with shiny metallic areas scanned in particularly well I think. I had to leave the copier lid up just to stop the buttons backs from damaging the white foam pad on the inside of the lid.
The top row of buttons are particularly decorative, look classical in terms of pattern.

Black, yellow and flowers

I've recently been going through my sack of textile remnants and pieces and have found that these pieces in particular seem quite odd. Normally I tend to stay clear of black or really dark colours, seeing them as tones or colours to be wary of - as if they are predators. But here I utilised them in a scheme to create interesting contrasts between dullish but bright yellows and creams and the dark blues and blacks of the fabric backgrounds - even taking pieces of suit trousers (worn out) to add to the long rectangular piece.  

A fabric piece I have already blogged about here. It is one of my favourite pieces just because of the way the print is, colours used and the way it tiles in places - where the error of the overlap of the pattern/tile makes the piece all the more memorable. 

Testing Sumptuous Plum and Teal Tension

Photos form some recent experiments on paper and an old cotton bed sheet,

using emulsion colours from the Dulux range:

The rich teal that becomes more blue than green here

thanks to being watered down and mixed slightly with white.

Bits of Dylon dye powder dropped it begin to absorb the wetness around them.
A 2B pencil drawn set of random lines.

The shiny silver effect upon emulsion is actually quite pretty.

 A bold pink that I have really began to love.

It is a very strong and bold pink - like a hot pink? 

The effect of these strokes is done by putting some white paint down first,

a thick blob that is then brushes out into a line or shape, and then

a bit of a colour on the same brush that is then brushed out on top of the white.

Not too much of the colour otherwise the effect isn't as strong.

Painting on cloth is something that really interests me at the moment -

the way the paint seems to react alongside a material that

rarely carries something so heavy as emulsion or wet ink.

Again white paint is laid out and then some random

splodges of blue are added with a smaller brush.

Stripes and dots in pink and purple

 
 
















Stripes and spots

 

Spots, circles and polka dots.

Is it a coincidence that sibilance is in these words?

In reality this fabric is pink only,

but my camera made areas of the fabric appear purple.

This piece of fabric is one that I am working with at the moment; it is a particularly bold fabric piece. The pinks and the bold graphic patterns that consist of wild cat print patterns,

like the stripes of a tiger and spots of a cheetah, blend together wonderfully. The material itself is lightweight and fairly thin, though not really translucent. The print is very stripe orientated.

As with any other kind of fabric that is produced with saris or shalwar kameezs in mind there is another piece that matches this in terms of colour and print, I imagine this piece is meant to be made into the shalwar/trouser and this above piece as the tunic/dress/kameez.

Hopefully I can find the matching piece to it.    

 

Light colours and organic forms

 

 

 

 

 

I took these scraps from various interior catalogues.

Where there is a bit of pattern, it is broken up by layers of light colours.

The organic forms of brambles and holly

play with these muted hues of blues and greens beautifully.

 

I couldn't help but include a random bit of pink.
Like a ribbon.

More and more Owls (Part 3)

'Along with leaves, owls are another key theme for the Alpine, cropping up on cusions for Nordic Elements'

(Mix, 2013, p.56)

In photo text: Nordic Elements, Andreas Engesvik

This old owl looks quite spooky, like some kind of bird guarding a cave.

(Craft, 2012)

I adore these wooden toys, they again share the large round eyes of the owl and the beak is cleverly integrated as a corner. T
hese were from an article titled 'Accessories Wooden Toys'.

'More birds, this time owls, come form Matt Pugh. This is the British based designer's signature range, made from oak or walnut and with a slick of colour on the owl's crown.'

(Craft, 2012, p.25)

References:

Mix (2013) Mix, the magazine for colour, design and trends, AW 2013/14 (30),
pp.17 and 43-45.

Crafts (2013) Accessories Wooden Toys, Crafts, January/February 2013, no. 240,
p.25.

More and More Owls (part 1)

Owls can be found on all sorts of things now,

sadly I don't own anything with owls on,
so instead my friend Liz took some photos.

Owls looks pretty good in knitted form,
it suits their personalities, or
at least how they are portrayed in Winnie-the-Pooh bear by Owl.
I always felt he is a bit woolly and dense, yet still so very cute.
Buttons for eyes detail works quite well here.  

These studs are dainty!
The colouring of them too is very interesting,
a kind of golden copper brown shade with such big eyes.

I believe this is a brooch.
Again beautiful detailing, but this time on the tummy
where it is like a cluster of gems.
It reminds me of Tawny Owl
from Animals of Farthing Wood.
Both sharing a stern expression.

This one, unlike the previous,
is very lady bug like - with the dotty wings.
and again, large eyes.

Now a charm bracelet, the owl has been threaded via his neck
- painful if he was real but he isn't.
Actually - why is he even a he?
Why can't I say she? Or it? Strange.

This carry case/bag looks purple,
with an interesting palette including red and a very pale purple-blue.
The hearts are an interesting addition,

This pair of owls kind of have an armoured look about them.
The main body parts are given scale like links of armour.
Neatly done with really big black eyes and the tails are simple
but very effective in their continuing of the whole armoured appearance.

This patchwork owl is a piece of sheer brilliance!
Big eyes, ornately patterned tummy and
some nice detailing with the stitch work
and authentically made by Liz.

The last photo -
this little red/pink creature is so cute.
Just look at the eyes. Aww.

Links:
[http://journalofspectacles.blogspot.co.uk/]
Liz's blog:
A journal of Spectacles

More collected owl related bits and pieces from magazines and media to come in:
More and more Owls (Part 2) 

White, cream and pink and orange

The merger of paper, fabric and stitch.

Just some old work.

Lilac and White - 6 Petaled Flower

This print is very Arts and Crafts movement and William Morris like - that is why I picked it.
The print itself is very 'English' and a neat looking print that sticks to simple line work, creating negative and positive areas. The light purple adds a soothing feeling and look to the print. 

The fabric itself is a nice light to medium weight cotton. Surprisingly the white trousers of this shalwar kameez are still white.

Paul Steiger, Curtain fabric

I found these curtains at a charity shop in town, bought and paid for them and used them in a piece of textiles I've been working on. Yup, I was surprised that it was made in the UK too.   

It's a beautiful heavy lace fabric with a good thick curtain lining and a nice creamy colour to it.

And underneath I was messing about with underlayering it with black and white striped fabric.  

Yay - its september! :D
I'm trying out some new layouts.
Hopefully I'll find something to stick to.

Blue and white and often

Have you ever noticed how commonplace the blue and white pairing is?
It is on plates, with the Willow Pattern is the most recognisable representation of such mixing of colour and tone.
It works brilliantly on fabric of course.

I like how on this chiffon like fabric the print can build up,
creating layers separated by a thin veil of white, where under layers can still be seen.

And of course, lots of leaves.

Pink grids and Orange weave

Again the whole rows, verticals and horizontals

has got me here. The grid form

with such brilliant precise weave is just fantastic.

It uses a pink coloured grid structure for threads to weave in and out of, leaving enough of it showing so that you can tell straight away the colour.

The button is quote a traditional looking one,

with that brown and cream blending thing going on

that matches with some of the weaved threads. 

The colours include orange as well,
that comes off very light ginger like amongst
the other colours of browns, pinks and the tones.

Lots of blue, lines and plastic

With pinks and silvers thrown in for extra points. 

 

The bead work on this kurta is coming off now but it still looks impressive. 

The interesting grid like structure above alongside wavy sequined lines 

shows great choice in colour. and shape.

 

The inside of the neckline shows an
interesting structure of thin plastic thread that is transparent and still visible. 

The slit eye like shape, clearly a shape referenced 

in Asia's own art and cultural heritage, 

an example would be the book cover of
The triumph of modernism: India's artists and the avant-garde, 1922-1947 by Partha Mitter,
which shows a painting that uses the idea of elongated eyes.

Shiny and purple. Could it get better?

Well yes probably, it's a lovely shade of plum like purple.
Yum. Plum, coincidence that it rhymes?

Purple has been a colour I've been drawn to like,
well I suppose a rusty stubborn magnet.

Silvery coloured bits, which I'd keep away from the iron in case they melt.

Silver goes with everything and anything....

just be careful you don't end up looking like something from a Christmas nativity story.